The LAN makes communication between members of the same organization much easier, but The Internet is a MUCH larger unit, and LANs need some help in order to make an Internet connection possible. LANs are attached to special computers called routers. A router is designed with one job in mind; directing traffic between the LAN and the rest of the Internet. In essence, when you send a message anywhere outside your LAN, you send it to the router, which takes care of distributing the message to the rest of the Internet. Likewise, any messages or documents you get from anywhere on the Internet have gotten to your machine through your router, and your LAN.